Screening and Intervention for Psychosocial Needs by U.S. Obstetrician-Gynecologists

Abstract Background Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) bereaved by the death of a parent or sibling from cancer report unique psychosocial needs and can have difficulty adjusting to their loss. Unaddressed, this can result in poor long-term bereavement outcomes. This paper describes the development and evaluation of Good Grief – a 3-day camp-based program focused on meeting coping, social support, and respite needs of AYAs bereaved by familial cancer. Methods One hundred and nine Australian AYAs (68% female; age: 12–25 years, M = 16.63) participated in the evaluation. Grief intensity (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief), meaning-making (Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory), trauma coping (Perceived Ability to Cope with Trauma Scale) and unmet needs (Bereaved Cancer Needs Instrument) measures were administered pre-program and 3-months post-program. Acceptability was measured after each session and at the program’s conclusion. Appropriateness was measured at 3-month follow-up. Thirteen participants were interviewed three months post-program on their perceptions of the program. Results Participants reported high program satisfaction, engagement with psychosocial sessions, and enjoyment of recreational activities. Significant improvements were observed in trauma coping abilities and reductions in unmet needs for managing emotions, social support, respite, future planning, and accessing information and support domains. No change was evident in grief intensity or meaning-making as measured quantitatively. Interviews supported these quantitative findings but also identified evidence of personal growth, a component of meaning-making. Conclusions Good Grief is a highly acceptable and beneficial intervention that addresses the unique needs of AYAs bereaved by familial cancer.

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The profile of vulnerable students using the university psychosocial and medical care services

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.457 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

M Papadakaki ◽

F Sarakatsianou ◽

V Tsismeli ◽

G Lapidakis ◽

M Karapiperaki

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Family Income ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Academic Progress ◽

Health Examination ◽

The European Union ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Development Education ◽

Medical Unit ◽

Set Up

Abstract Background Increasing the capacity of higher education institutes to address students' vulnerabilities has been deemed necessary due to the financial crisis. Multilevel interventions have thus been initiated at the Hellenic Mediterranean University of Crete, as part of a project co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) through the Operational Programme <<Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014- 2020 >> (MIS 5045937). The project aims to offer support to students with low family income or a certified disability, monitor their bio-psychosocial needs, increase their accessibility to health and psychosocial care, and improve their academic outcomes. Methods As part of the project, a primary health care unit has been set up to offer medical and nursing care (medical unit) as well as psychosocial support (counseling centre) to students in need. An observatory has also been set up to monitor their health and psychosocial needs and their academic progress. Results A total of 228 eligible students used the services in the second half of 2019 (counseling centre 37; medical unit 191). Out of the 37 individuals who used the counseling centre, 30 (81.0%) were female and 16 (43.2%) were at the first 2 years of their studies. A total of 36 (97.3%) requested psychological support, 6 (16.2%) warranted social welfare services and 1 (2.7%) support for learning disabilities. As for the 191 individuals who used the medical services, 101 (52.8%) were male and 88 (46.0%) were at first 2 years of their studies. Most of them had a health examination to receive a health certificate (74.8%) followed by those who received emergency care (e.g. respiratory infection, allergic reaction, injury, etc), chronic disease management and medicine subscription, as well as vaccination. Conclusions Complex bio-psychosocial needs have been identified, recorded and analyzed to explain the academic progress of socially vulnerable students. Key messages The students’ journey through medical and counseling services is being mapped to offer important information for educational policy. Assessment and monitoring of students’ complex needs are important to achieve quality in higher education.

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Compounded trauma: A qualitative study of the challenges for refugees living with advanced cancer

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/02692163211000236 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026921632110002

Author(s):

Ping Guo ◽

Sawsan Alajarmeh ◽

Ghadeer Alarja ◽

Waleed Alrjoub ◽

Ayman Al-Essa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Large Population ◽

Community Support ◽

Support Network ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

The Impact

Background: Although palliative care is now an essential health service under Universal Health Coverage, ensuring access and appropriate care for refugees is a specific challenge for this large population. Aim: To identify the needs and experiences of adult refugees in Jordan with advanced cancer and informal caregivers. Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting/participants: Participants were purposively sampled at two Jordanian hospitals to achieve heterogeneity by age, gender, country of origin, and primary diagnosis. Results: Twenty-nine refugees (22 patients, 7 caregivers) participated, and four themes were generated: (1) Psychological distress and sustaining social support. Refugees often experienced unmet psychosocial needs. However, psychosocial support was reported either absent or limited. (2) Knowledge and uncertainty. Lack of information and poor communication between healthcare providers and patients caused significant distress due to uncertainty. (3) Family anxiety and support roles. Being away from the home country cut patients and caregivers off from their wider social support network, which added increased anxiety and responsibilities to caregivers. (4) Compounded trauma and poverty. Many refugees have experienced trauma related to war that may affect their physical and mental health. They faced serious financial crises caused by the rising cost of medicines and treatment. Conclusions: This study reveals the impact of fractured families and networks on social support in advanced cancer, and the compounding trauma of the disease for refugees. Detailed person-centred assessment and emphasis on psychosocial support is essential, and home-based care should not presume community support for patients to remain at home.

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132P Quality of life and psychosocial needs of metastatic breast cancer patients

Annals of Oncology ◽

10.1016/s0923-7534(21)00291-x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. ix39

Author(s):

T. Mehmood

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Metastatic Breast ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Breast Cancer Patients

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Empower to connect and connect to empower: experience in using a humanistic approach to improve patients’ access to, and experience of, care in isolation wards during the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore

BMJ Open Quality ◽

10.1136/bmjoq-2020-000996 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. e000996

Author(s):

Natalie Liling Woong ◽

Victoria Sze Min Ekstrom ◽

Xiaohui Xin ◽

Crystal Lim ◽

Evelyn Swee Kim Boon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Interprofessional Collaboration ◽

Quality Improvement Project ◽

Healthcare Team ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Improvement Project ◽

Support Materials ◽

Experience Of Care ◽

Singapore General Hospital

Patients admitted to the isolation ward during the COVID-19 outbreak face multiple psychosocial stressors including the disruptive experience of being in quarantine, anxiety over contracting a newly emerging infectious disease and limited access to their healthcare team. This quality improvement project aims to leverage on technology to improve patients’ access to, and experience of, care while in isolation.Patients admitted to two isolation wards in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) between 28 February and 19 March 2020 were each provided an iPad loaded with the MyCare application (app), curated materials and mobile games. During this period, 83 of them accessed the device and the app. MyCare app is an app developed by the nursing team in SGH as part of an existing interprofessional collaboration to help patients navigate their care during their inpatient stay. In response to COVID-19, MyCare app was supplemented with materials to address affected patients’ informational and psychosocial needs. These materials included an information sheet on COVID-19, interviews with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome survivors, psychosocial support materials, and uplifting literature, illustrated storybooks and artwork.This paper describes the process of planning for, and executing, the intervention and reports the initial results of its effect. Initial feedback indicated a positive response to the intervention. 9 out of 10 respondents (90%) rated their hospital experience with a maximum of five stars and all 10 respondents (100%) rated the psychosocial support materials with five stars. Doctors managing the patients also observed a reduction in the number of commonly asked questions following the deployment of the iPad.This quality improvement project is ongoing with plans for further research to determine how to better support the psychosocial needs of patients in isolation during a novel disease outbreak. This report is written based on the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence guidelines.

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